Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Dedicates RBHS-South in Blackwood
BLACKWOOD, N.J. – With a snip of a scarlet ribbon, Rutgers School of Biomedical and Health Sciences Chancellor Brian Strom officially opened the new RBHS-South campus in South Jersey.
On the grounds of Camden County College, the campus hosts graduate and undergraduate School of Health Profession programs in three disciplines, as well as a School of Nursing bachelor’s degree program.
“The partnership between Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences and Camden County College offers more health science education in a collaborative environment,'' said Chancellor Strom at the event held on the campus Oct. 12.
The move expands Rutgers’ partnership with Camden County College, which began with the School of Nursing nearly five years ago, and paves the way for a seamless transfer from an associate’s degree to a bachelor’s degree.
The administration of Camden County College initially approached School of Nursing Dean William Holzemer with the idea of partnership. After several discussions, the forward-thinking idea of the pre-nursing 2+2 model was created – two years of general education and prerequisite courses at Camden County College followed by two years in the nursing degree program.
As the standard in nursing education moves toward requiring a bachelor’s degree, the joint program offers more opportunity to students to achieve their goal of becoming a registered nurse by starting at community college and completing a bachelor of science in Nursing at a university within four years.
While the School of Health Professions has had a presence in various South Jersey locations for more than 30 years, the relocation to Camden County College filled an emergent need to find adequate space for programs that rank among the fastest-growing health care professions in the nation.
RBHS-South houses the doctor of physical therapy program, ranked seventh in the Northeast region and second in the tristate, as well as undergraduate and graduate programs in psychiatric rehabilitation and counseling professions and interdisciplinary Studies.
“The partnership between CCC and RBHS is a model of how state institutions and county institutions work well together leading to positive outcomes for students,” said Chancellor Strom.
On the 320-acre Camden County College campus, RBHS - South occupies its own dedicated building, which include classrooms and newly design lab space for the physical therapy program.
Joining the chancellor for the ribbon-cutting were Deans Holzemer and Gwen Mahon, of Rutgers SHP, and Camden County College President Donald A. Borden. Faculty, staff and students from both Rutgers SHP and the School of Nursing were on hand.
Rutgers School of Health Professions provides education for both entry-level health professionals and practicing health providers seeking specialty and advanced degrees.
The school opened in Newark in 1976 and has grown into the largest, leading health professions school in the country with more than 50 programs, greater than 1,700 students, and four campuses – Newark, Piscataway, Scotch Plains and Blackwood.
Rutgers School of Nursing, with campus locations in Newark, New Brunswick and Blackwood, is one of the nation’s largest, most comprehensive nursing programs, enrolling 1,700 students in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees as well as specialty and post-master’s certificates. The school is ranked in the nation’s top 20 for its master’s and doctor of nursing practice programs by U.S. News & World Report.